Posted on 05/28/2017 10:57:06 AM PDT by Kaslin
Secretary of Defense James Mattis appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation" this morning and spoke with James Dickerson about a number of national security issues, including ISIS, North Korea, the Manchester bombing, NATO, and the Paris climate agreement.
Mattis, a retired General and former Commandant of the United States Central Command, had a storied Marine career and was hailed as "The most revered Marine of his generation" upon his retirement in 2013. To say that he's probably seen some things is an understatement.
He's previously said, “I don’t lose any sleep at night over the potential for failure. I cannot even spell the word.”
What does he lose sleep over? Dickerson asked him what keeps him awake at night:
Sec. Mattis on what keeps him awake at night pic.twitter.com/KtNgTfYeB2— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) May 28, 2017
His answer? "Nothing. I keep people awake at night."
Exactly the attitude ISIS, North Korea, and anyone else who seeks to harm the United States needs to see from our military.
Given that a well-known Mattism (the name reporters have given his phrases) is "Be polite, be professional, and have a plan to kill everyone you meet," this answer shouldn't be surprising at all.
He sounds scared.
What really should bother him is that those big carriers, upon which any projection of American power in Asia depends, when deployed against a technologically sophisticated opponent are floating coffins. What’s more those sailors will never even see the enemy that attacked them.
Different header I guess? LOL! Grape mimes thing alike:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3556008/posts
Chuck Norris memes have been replaced with Mattis memes on Twitter.
Good point, why DO we favor a few floating cities instead of smaller more numerous force projectors?
Mattis:
Nothing Keeps me up at night.
I make others lose sleep at night.
i think attacking an aircraft carrier wold lead to immediate nuclear reprisals.
BS.
Sincerely hope for the sake of those young sailors that you are right.
Your statement applies equally to any piece of military hardware back to the days of war chariots and bows and arrows. The trick is to stay more technologically sophisticated that your enemy.
It depends on the threat assessment and the capabilities of the enemy along with the mission. The US carrier strike group normally consists of 1 Aircraft Carrier, 1 Guided Missile Cruiser (for Air Defense), 2 LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System) Capable Warships (focusing on Anti-Submarine and Surface Warfare), and 1–2 Anti Submarine Destroyers or Frigates. A few submarines can also be added.
There are only a few potential enemies that pose any real threat to a CSG. And if they attack it, then we are in WWIII. Right now, the CSG is the best vehicle for global force projection and maintaining the sea lanes. How would you get up to 90 combat aircraft to a global hot spot?
The problem is human nature. The experience of the “Battleship Admirals” is a case in point. The military is no different than other large entities. The senior people who come to lead and administer it are most influenced and enamored by the technology and techniques they mastered in their prime. The naval officers who came of age in the 1920’s in all the major navies loved nothing more than the armored, high firepower battleships on which they served and commanded. Thousands of young men from all the major navies (Germany, Britain, France, Italy, the US and Japan) died on those ships in WW II when those who warned about their vulnerability to air power were ignored. Today all floating capital ships despite their impressive defensive weapons face technological threats such as stealthy missiles, equally stealthy flocks of drones, long range torpedoes, asymmetrical attacks and technological challenges that constantly change. Yet for those who served in those ships and now direct their deployment such threats seem surreal and not plausible. Military history sadly has innumerable examples of Generals fighting wars with techniques made obsolete and deadly by technological advances. WW I infantry suffered horrible causalities with murderous frontal charges against machine guns and modern rifles, huge cavalry units were maintained at great expense and the squandering of resources. Adjustments are eventually made, but many die before the necessary changes in leadership are made. Frankly believe that Mattis is a great leader and understands the vulnerability of his best assets if he has to fight an all out war. Hopefully most of his Generals and Admirals don’t equate bravado with courage and thoughtful reflection with somehow being a coward.
Yeah, but yours was from the Daily Caller, and written by a different author
LOL! Probably used different words and stuff too. Now back to the real story. Right?
Some pretty broad statements there. Floating coffins? I would be curious as to your background, knowledge of carrier strike group tactics, CAP and other outer battlespace components. Lots of scuttlebut floating around the internet as to how we cant hope to counter ballistic weapons with a high attack angle. I’d suggest a study on our integration of ballistic missile interception capabilities with the Aegis cruisers and destroyers. An attack on a carrier would be a declaration of war. With the chain of command we now have I’d expect an overwhelming response. Just my 2 cents.
I think you underestimate the capability of the Arleigh Burke destroyer escorts, among other assets.
As a former naval officer, I have every confidence that that our carrier groups will continue to take the necessary actions to ensure their survive-ability. We have not lost a carrier since WWII.
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